Stereotype-plate casting and finishing apparatus



April 21, 1925.

- H. F. BECHMAN STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING APPARATUS Original Filed July 12, 191.5 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 21, 1925.

H. F. BECHMAN STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July April 21, 1925. v

H. F. BECHMAN STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING A ND FINISHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 av vvv I Original Filed July A 'n'l 21, 1925.

H. F. BECHMAN STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTI NG AND FINISHING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed July 2, 1915 i purpose theappaiiatus issoconstruoted and fill Patented Apr. 21,- 1925.

unrrsnfisr Ares PATENT orsles.

HENRY BEGI-IMAN, on-LBATT JEerr-EEK, ivercnmenn'; ns'srenon mommrrinx PRINT- ING rnnss COMPANY, or Barren-GREEK; *MrernreAav; hoonronmbron or *M ICHI- GAN.

ismnnnoryrnrniwn' ons'rrne AND FINISI-IQING Aer-Animus.

Continuation of vapplication :Serial No. 3flg44flrfiled .Tu1y 12, 1915. This application filed June 9,319 157.

. :Serial No. 173 903.

Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigam'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereotype- Plate (lasting {and Finishing Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,

referenee being had to the accompanying ('lra-wings, which form pant of this specification. i

This invention is a novel apparatus or machine for casting and finishing stereotype plates such as are used .on printing p resses and particularly "tubular stereotype plates of the type shown in my Patent'Noi 867,230 dated October 1, 1907; The present application is in part a continuation ofmy original; application for patent filed July 12,

One object of the present invention'is to enable such tubular plates to be cast and trimmed ready for use on the press with a minimum of manual handling. For this arranged that atter the plate is cast the core ofthe castingboxis lowered to present the plate thereon to the trimming mechanism so that asthe plate is removed :fromthe core it enters the plate trimming mechanism, and when withdrawn therefrom it is ready for placinguponthe plate cylinder of "a press, no boring of such plates beingrequired bemause theyfare cast of. the proper idiameter and uniform thickness.

Another object of the inventionflis to provide-aplurality of casting boxes mounted on amovable support and in such relation to the melting pot or pots that while a previously cast plate is being removed from the core of one box to the trimming mechanism another plate is being cast, or can bBQCELSt, in another *box, so that the operations of castingand finishing ,plates :may .be' penformed simultaneously and thus a great deal of time saved in the manipulationor operation of theapparatus, and theproduction of plates greatly'facilitated. a

Another object is to provide a melting pot a and applurality of (movable casting boxes adjacent the melting pot so that the casting boxes can he successively or alternately brought into position for'receiving a charge of metal from the melting pot to easta plate and then be moved out of the Way; and whilea plate is being cast'in one box a previously cast plate may be removed from another box, so that the operations of cast mg and removing plates from different boxes may be performedsimultaneously.

In the preferred method of operating'the apparatus the core of the casting box 1s utilized as a means for supporting and directmg the least plate from the castingbox into the plate trimming mechanism; and

when; the plate enters the pjlate-holder of such mechanism the operator, by simply shifting a controlling lever, starts theft-rimming mechanism into" operatio whereupon the plate is automatically expanded-within the holder, then the trimmers are'au'tomatically advanoedto out off thesprue and bevel both ends of the plate, and at theend of the trimming operation the plate-holder is automatically stopped andbacked up until it is .in position to receive a 'newly east plate from the core, andthe finished plate'is released and may he removed from theholder;

and can be ejected therefrom by the insertion of a newly cast platethereinto.

The invention includes the novel combination of a tubular plate casting box with tubular plate trimming mechanism; Itflalslo includes a novel arrangement of plate easting means The invention further. includes other novel combinations of parts and detailsof construction as are hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings whiohgih lustrate 'apractioal apparatus for casting and trimm ing. tubular stereotype plates, ,but

the invention is not irestrioted tothe par ticular construction of parts shown in said drawings, and I therefore refer to :the claims .for epitomes of the novel combinationsand features for which protection is desired. a

In saididrawings:

Figure 1 is a part sectional side elevation of a complete apparatus embodying the inti l vent-ion, and showing in dotted lines the core of the casting box lowered into position to direct a plate into the trimming mechanism.

Figure 2 is a reduced top plan view of Fig. 1 partly broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail transverse section showing the gearing for shifting the boxes in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure 4- is an enlarged top plan view of the trimming mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 55 Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of another arrangementof movable casting boxes.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of Fig. 6.

Referring to said drawings, A, A, designate casting boxes, and T designates the trimming mechanism; these are preferably mounted in determinate relative positions for co-operation as hereinafter explained.

Each casting box A may be of the general cmistruction illustrated in my patent No. 995,655 of June 20, 1911, having a drag a, a cope 7) and a tiltable core 0; such boxes are adapted to produce tubular stereotype plates with a longitudinal slot such as described in my Patent No. 867 ,280 aforesaid. The core 0 is enclosed between the cope and drag during the operation of casting a plate, and when the plate is cast it surrounds said core; after the box is opened the core is tilted outwardly so as to permit the plate to be withdrawn therefrom.

In the example shown the core can be tilted to horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1', and the boxes are preferably located in or movable to such position that when the core is so lowered it lies in exact axial alinement wit-h the rotatable tubular plate-holder T of the trimming mechanism so that the cast plate, indicated at P, may he slid directly off the core 0 into such holder T, as more fully hereinafter explained.

The trimming mechanism illustrated compri. a rotatable plate-holder T mounted in suitable bearings 2 on the base, and said holder is adapted to be rotated by suitable mechanism, preferably such as shown and described in my original application Serial No. 3. A49, and requires no further explanation herein.

.The plate-holder is provided with a bar 7 and is stopped in such position that the bar 7 will be in direct line with the rib c on the core 0, which rib produces a longitudinal slot in the cast tubular plate. Therefore when the care a of a casting box is lowered to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the slot in the plate will be directly in line with bar 7 and the plate can be slid endwise directly off the core into the plate-holder, the slotin the plate accommodating the bar I.

the preferred arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 two similar casting boxes designated as A, A are employed; these casting boxes are each fixed to a slidable support F which is slidably mounted on a suitable base E adjacent a melting pot D which may he of any suitable construction. This melting pot is shown in Fig. 2 as provided with two pumps C and C and two spouts B and B; these spouts extend toward opposite ends of the base E and in such position that when the slide F is in one extreme position the casting box A will be positioned beneath the spout B, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in the other extreme position a similar casting box A will be positioned beneath the spout B. WVhen the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the cast ing box A will be in such position that its core 0 when lowered will be directly in line with the plate-holder of the trimming mechanism and the plate can be slid endwise from the core into the holder T as stated. And during the time the plate is being removed from the casting box A, a plate is cast in the casting box A. hen the plate has been removed from box A the slide is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 so as to bring the box A into line with the trimmer, and bring box A under the spout B; and while a cast plate is being removed from the box A, another plate is cast in the box A.

The slide may be moved back and forth, at the proper time by any suitable power actuated means. As shown the slide F has a rack H on its under side which meshes with a pinion G on a countershaft G journaled in suitable bearings attached to the base E, or other suitable support; and the shaft G has a bevehgear g meshing with a corresponding bevel-gear 2' on a shaft 1 also journaled in suitable hearings on or adjacent the frame E, and extending to one end of said base. Shaft 1 has on its outer end a pref erably worm gear I which meshes with a worm K on shaft K which may be driven by suitable belts and pulleys, or other prime mover. As shown the shaft K carries two loose pulleys L, L which can be driven in opposite directions by belts, not sho vn, and on the shaft K is splined a double faced clutch whose members M, M are respectively adapted to engage with clutch members on the opposed pulleys L, L.

The clutch can be shifted so as to clutch either pulley L, L to shaft K and simultaneously disengage the other pulley, so that by properly shifting the clutch the shaft can be rotated in the direction desired; or when the clutch is shifted to intermediate position the shaft K will be stopped. As shown the clutch may be shifted by means of a lever 111 connected by levers and links m, m m to a hand lever m pivoted on the base E in a position convenient for manipulation lIlU the operator; and byproperly shifting this lever the operator can drive thevgea-ring and slnit the slide to move boxes A, A to any desired position lengthwise otthe tt'rame E; and thus can bringthe desired box 1nto Figs. 1 and 2 the cast plate comes, slot up permost, directly in line with the bar 7 in the holder, and it. is only necessary to move the plate horizontally oil the core into the platediolder.

Adjacent each end of the plate-holderare plate trimming orcuttingtools 68 and 69 which are operated as described in my said application.

. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a construction in which the casting boxes are mounted on a rotatable support instead of an a 'slidiable support and two or more boxes can be As shown the support F has a bevelgea'r mounted on such support, each ofthese boxes may be constructed as previously described. Four boxes are shown insaid figures mounted on arotatable support F which is rotatably mounted on the base E and may be rotatedby any suitable means.

on its under side which meshes with apinion G on a counter-shaft G which is pro vided with aworm gear I on the outerend meshing with a worm K ona shaft K which carries a loose pulley L engaged by a clutch M which-clutch may be shifted by means of levers indicated in the drawings substantially as shown in Figs 4, and 5, similar parts being similarly lettered. In thi's construction however it is not necessary to reverse the rotation of the support F consequently only one pulley and clutch need beemployed. Further only one pump G and discharge spout B need be employed with the melting 1 As the support .is-turncd each casting box is successively brought intoposition beneath the spout B for casting aplate, and while a plate is beingcast in one box a, previously cast plate may be removed from the opposite box which is then in line withthe 113121118 trimming machine, so thatwhen 'the core is lowered as indicated in Fig. 7 the cast plate maybe slid from such core directly into the holder of the trimming mechanism; with this machine .one plate may be cast while one plate is cooling, and another plate is being removed, and still anotherbox isbeing made ready for the casting operation; while the plate removed therefrom'is being trimmed, so that with thisapparatus, Figs. 6 and 7, plates can be made even more rapidly than wit-h the apparatus shown in Figs. -"land 5.

0 peration.

The core 0 is in vertical position within the closed box when. a plate is being cast (see box A Fig. 2); but after a plate is cast, and when the box is properly positianed opposite the trim'n'ier, the core is lowered to the-position indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

1 (see box A in Fig. 2); the plateeholder beingnormally, held in position in which bar 7 is in exact a-lineinent with the slot cast lengthwise in the plate P as it lies on the horizontal core 0.

After a plate has been cast and sutiic-iently cooled,- the casting box is opened and the core:t1pped to a horizontal position (Fig.

1) and the tubular plate is then slid spl'ue.

first, from the core into the plate-holder. the sprue projecting outoi the outer end of the cylinder.

The operator then moves the starting le ver 56 and the gearing causes the holder '1." to revolve rapidly, and as it revolves the plate is securely locked in place in the'hold'er as describedin my said application while it is being trimmed.

Aszthe holder revolves the trimming tools 68, '69 are moved to cut off the sprueand trim the -ends ofthe plate, and after their work is performed thetools rapidly recede .to their original positions.

when started, relieving the operator from further attention to the machine until the plate is tnin'nned and ready for removal. While one plate is beingthustrimmed the core 0 may be returned to position in the box, and a new. pla tecast. When the plate has been trimmed the holder is stopped and the trimmed platecan be removed, and a new plate insertedtherein, and the foregoing operations repeated. hile I have shown and described a multiple of boxes employed in connection with' a single plate trimming mechanism, which makes a highly efficient and rapid organization of plate casting and trinuni m mechanism; the movable boxes could be usefully employedin casting plates even it the plates-had to be separately carried tronrthe boxes to a platetrimmer separated therefrom. Furthermore the invention would be veryuseful in making and trimming'plates if but one box was employed inconnection with the trimmer, but by using a' plurality of-boxes many moreplates can be produced in a giventime.

lVhat I claim is: p

1. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising aplurality of tubular plate cas'ting boxes, and

plate trimming mechanism adapted to receire a tubular plate endwiise fron'ra casting the boxes into and out of position to The trimmer goes through its operations auton-iatically,

ice

deliver plates to the trimming mechanism, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a tubular plate casting box having a movable cylindric core around which the plate is cast, said core being movable to present the plate to the trimming mechanism and tu bular plate trimming mechanism adapted to receive a tubular plate slid end-wise there into directly from the casting box core and trim same, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a tubular plate casting box, and a tubular plate trimming mechanism adjacent thereto, said casting box having a tiltable cylindric core around which the tubular plate is cast and said core adaptedtc be thereafter tilted so that the tubular plate can be slid endwise from the core directly into the trimming mechanism; and said trimming mechanism being adapted to automatically finish the tubular plate after the same is inserted therein.

1-. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, con'iprising a tubular plate casting box having a pivoted tiltable cylindric core around which the plate is cast, said core being adapted to be tilted so as to direct the plate. when cast into the trimming mechanism; and a tubular plate trimming mechanism adjacent said casting box and so located that when the core is lowered the plate when slid oil' the core will enter directly into the trimn'iing mechanism, substantially as described.

5. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a plate casting box having a movable core around which the plate is cast, a plate trimming mechanism located adjacent the box in line with the core and having a plate holder, said core being adapted to carry the cast plate from a vertical position in the box into a horizontal position adjacent the said plate holder, so that the tubular plate when slid endwise from the core will enter the holder; and said plate trimming mechanism being adapted to automatically trim a plate entered therein during one cycle of operations.

6. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a tubular plate casting box having a tilt-able core around which the plate is cast; a plate trimming mechanism adjacent the box and in line with the core having a tubular plate holder; said core being adapted when tilted downwardly to carry the cast plate from the box into axial alinement with the said plate holder, whereby when the plate is slid endwise from the core it passes directly into the holder; and said plate trimming mechanism being adapted to automatically trim a plate entered therein during one cycle of operations.

7. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a plurality of plate casting boxes, each casting box having a movable part adapted in one position to assist in the formation 01 a plate and in another position to carry such plate out of the box in position to direct such plate into the trimming mechanism; with a plate trimming mechanism; and means for moving the boxes into and out of position to deliver plates therefrom to said trimming mechanism.

8. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising plate casting boxes, each casting box haying a tiltable core adapted in one position to assist in the formation of the plate and in another position to carry the plate out of the box and to direct the same into the trimming mechanism; and a tubular plate trimming mechanism adapted to automatically finish the plate after the same is inserted therein; with means for moving the boxes into and out of position to deliver the plates to the trimming mechanism.

9. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising tubular plate casting boxes, each having a core around which the plate is cast adapted in one position to assist in the formation of the plate and when moved to another position to carry the. plate out of the box and to direct the same into the trimming mechanism; with a tubular plate trimming mechanism located in position to receive a plate from the core of a casting box and adapted to automatically finish the plate when the same is inserted therein: and means to supply molten metal to the boxes to cast plates therein, and means for moving the boxes alternately from casting position into position to deliver plates to the trin'iming mechanisnn substantially as described. 7

'10. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a plate trimming mechanism having a tubular plate holder adapted to automatically trim a plate entered therein during one cycle of operations; and a plurality of plate casting boxes each having a movable core around which the plate is cast and adapted when lowered to direct the cast plate from the box into position adjacent the said plate-holder so that the plate when slid endwise from the core Will enter the holder; with means for moving the boxes into and out of position to deliver plates to the trimming mechanism.

11. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a plate trimming mechanism having a tubular plate holder adapted to automatically trim a plate entered therein during one cycle of operations; and a plurality of plate casting boxes Qil each having a movable core around which the plate is cast and adapted when lowered to direct the cast plate from the box into position adjacent the said plate-holder so that the plate when slid endwise from the plate, whenthe core is lowered, into the trimming mechanism, substantially as described.

12. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a plurality of tubular plate casting boxes mounted upon a rotatable support, a plate trimming mechanism adjacent the support adapted to receive a tubular plate endwise from a casting box and trim same, and means for rotating the support to successively move the boxes thereon into position to deliver plates to the said-trimming mechanism, substantially as described. a

13. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a plurality of individual plate casting boxes; each casting box having a movable part adapted in. one position to assist in the formationoii a plate and in another position to carry such plate out of the box in position to direct such plate into the trimming mechanism when the box is moved thereto; with a plate trimming mechanism beside the support and means for rotatingthe support to bring the respective boxes into and out of position to deliver plates therefrom to the said trimming mechanism.

1-1:. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a plurality of plate casting boxes each having a movable core around which the plate is cast and a rotatable support upon which the boxes are mounted, a plate trli'nmmg mechanism located adjacent the support and having a plate-holder, and means for rotating said support to bring the boxessuccessively into position to deliver plates to the trimming mechanism, the core of each box when opposite the trin'nning mechanism being adapted to carry the cast plate from a ver tical. position in the box into a horizontal. position adjacent the said plate-holder, so

that the tubular plate when slid endwise from the core will enter the holder; and said plate trimming mechanism being adapted to automatically trim a plate entered therein during one cycle of operations.

15. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a plu rality of individual tubular plate casting boxes, each casting box having a core around which the plate is cast adapted in one position to assist in the formation of the plate and when moved to another position to carry the plate out of the box and to direct the same into the trimming mechanism; and a rotatable support for said boxes, with a tubular plate trimming mechanism located adjacent the support and adapted to receive a plate from the core of a casting box when the box is moved thereto and to automatr' cally finish the plate when the same is inserted therein; means to supply molten metal to the boxes to cast plates therein; and means for rotating the support to move the boxes successively into casting position and then into position to deliver plates to the trimming mechanism, substantially as described. j

16. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a tubular plate casting box having a cylindric core around which the plate is cast, said core being movable from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal position and being vertical when the core is east; with. a substantially horizontal tubular plate trimming mechanism adapted to receive a tubular plate, slid end-wise thereinto directly from the casting box core when the latter is in a horizontal position, and to trim the plate; substantially as described.

17. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a tubular plate casting box, and a substantially horizontal tubular plate trimming mechanism adjacent thereto, said casting box having a tiltable cylindric core around which the tubular plate is cast when the core is in a substantially vertical position, said core being adapted to be tilted to a substantially horizontal position so that the tubular plate can be slid endwise from the core directly into the trimming mechanism; said trimming mechanism being adapted to automatically finish the tubular plate after the same is inserted therein.

18. Apparatus for making and finishing tubular stereotype plates, comprising a tubular plate casting box having a pivoted cylindric tiltable core around which the plate is cast when the core is in a substantially vertical position; said core being adapted when lowered to a substantially horizontal posi tion to direct the castplate into the'trimming mechanism; and a sub-horizontal tubular plate trimming mechanism adjacent said casting box and so located that when the core is lowered the plate when slid off the core will enter directly into the trimming mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

HENRY F. BEOHMAN. 

